Honda’s Initiatives on Electrification and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Fig.1 Honda’s electric scooter for postal services

Fig.2 Honda electric scooter fitted with swappable battery packs

Fig.3 Honda Mobile Power Pack portable and swappable batteries

Outline

In order for Honda to remain a company that society wants exist and to be able to lead the advancement of mobility and enable people everywhere in the world to improve their daily lives, Honda aims to achieve a carbon-free society by creating a new social structure based on Honda’s electrification technology and thereby realizing the popularization of electrified vehicles.

Honda has a long history of conducting extensive research and development activities for its expansive line of products that include motorcycles, automobiles, marine engines, power products, etc. Honda intends to continue with similar R&D efforts in the technologies which enhance our ability to offer our customers with means of transportation that are carbon-free. Specifically, by providing a combination of: (A) products with long-distance travel capability, such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs); (B) inner-city commuter electric vehicles; and (C) electrified vehicles for near-distance travel, Honda wishes to contribute to the world-wide effort in mitigating global warming.

Description

Initiatives with Motorcycles

Honda began lease sales of the “PCX ELECTRIC,” an electric motorized scooter in 2018, meeting the need for companies to take global environment into consideration when conducting businesses. Honda also announced another electric scooter, the “BENLY e:” for corporate customers in Japan. Both models derive power from two swappable batteries, the Honda Mobile Power Packs, which enable the user to continuously using the scooters by easily swapping the used pair of battery packs with a fully charged pair, eliminating downtime and, therefore, catering to the needs of businesses involved in delivery services.

As a result of collaboration that began in 2017 between Japan Post and Honda regarding postal services, the two entities entered into an agreement in January of 2020 to introduce a fleet of 200 Honda BENLY e: electric scooter for Japan Post’s mail delivery services in metropolitan areas beginning with Tokyo. The fleet is expected to rise to 2,000 units by the end of March 2021 as area coverage increases.

As with conventional motorcycles and scooters, Honda will continue to meet the needs of customers with electrified two-wheeled vehicles.

Initiatives with Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)

Honda considers hydrogen playing a vital role as one of renewable energy carriers and, therefore, devoted over 30 years into research and development of FCVs, along with HEVs and EVs, as we believe it to be an ultimate environmental technology.

On the other hand, expanded utilization of hydrogen energy faces major obstacles, such as cost issues and infrastructure development, which need to be overcome by industry-wide cooperation. One such move is Honda’s joint research with Isuzu Motors Limited on fuel cell-powered heavy-duty trucks based on an agreement signed in January 2020. By agreeing to combine long-standing strength of both companies—Isuzu with the development of heavy-duty trucks and Honda with development of fuel cell (FC) technology—the two companies will strive to establish the foundation for basic technologies such as FC powertrain and vehicle control technologies.

Moreover, through this joint research, Isuzu and Honda will not only realize clean, low-noise, low-vibration heavy-duty trucks, but also promote expansive discussions by the industry so that the use of FC trucks and hydrogen energy can contribute to the future prosperity of the logistics industry and all other industries in our society and to the early realization of hydrogen society.